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February 15, 2013

MetroLink Customers Will Experience Delays February 22 – 24 Due to Construction on the Light Rail Line

Dianne Williams Director of Communications 314-982-1440

MetroLink trains will not be in service between Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and the Wellston MetroLink Station on February 23 and February 24 so crews can finish construction on a new rail interlocking near the UMSL South MetroLink Station. Customers will be transported by bus shuttles between the Lambert Airport Terminal stations, and the North Hanley MetroLink Station, UMSL North MetroLink Station, UMSL South MetroLink Station, Rock Road MetroLink Station, and Wellston MetroLink Station.

Red Line passengers should allow an extra 20 to 30 minutes for their commutes Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 23 & 24). Customers heading to the airport should give themselves additional time (at least 30 minutes) for the commute so they do not miss their flights or arrive late for work.

Regular MetroLink service will resume by the start of service Monday, February 25.

In order to accommodate crews preparing for the weekend work, MetroLink trains will operate at reduced speeds between the Rock Road Station and North Hanley Station on Friday, February 22 beginning at 10 p.m. Additionally, Red Line service will end at the North Hanley Station at 10 p.m. Customers traveling to the airport will need to transfer to a special shuttle train for the remainder of the trip to the airport. MetroLink customers boarding at the airport will catch a special shuttle train, which will be located at the normal MetroLink Lambert Airport Terminal platforms, to the North Hanley Station where they will need to transfer to a Red Line train for their eastbound trips. Passengers can anticipate delays of 10 to 15 minutes on Friday night.

Blue Line service will not be affected Friday, Saturday or Sunday (Feb. 22-24).

SERVICE DETAILS Starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, February 22, MetroLink will operate trains at a slower speed between the North Hanley MetroLink Station and the Rock Road MetroLink Station to accommodate preparations for weekend work on the UMSL South rail interlocking project. Normal Red Line service will end at the North Hanley Station beginning at 10 p.m., and customers traveling to the airport will need to transfer to special airport shuttle trains which will be located at the North Hanley platform, to continue on to the airport stations. MetroLink customers boarding at the airport will catch a special shuttle train, which will be located at the normal MetroLink Lambert Airport Terminal platforms, to the North Hanley Station where they will need to transfer to a Red Line train for their eastbound trips. Red Line customers may encounter 10 to 15 minute delays. Blue Line service will not be impacted.

Beginning at start of service on Saturday, February 23 through end of service Sunday, February 24, Red Line trains will only run from the Wellston MetroLink Station to the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink Station Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 23 & 24). Red Line MetroLink passengers will be transported by bus shuttles between Lambert Airport Terminal #1, Lambert Airport Terminal #2, North Hanley, UMSL North, UMSL South, Rock Road, and Wellston stations. Red Line passengers should allow an extra 20 to 30 minutes for their commutes all weekend. Passengers traveling to the airport should allow additional time (at least 30 minutes) for the commute to avoid missing their flights or arriving late to work at the airport. Regular MetroLink service will resume by the start of service Monday, February 25.

Two shuttle bus routes will be provided for customers. One route will operate between the Wellston MetroLink Station and the North Hanley MetroLink Station with stops at each station in between. Those stations are the Rock Road station, UMSL South station, and UMSL North station. The second route will operate directly between the Wellston Station and the North Hanley Station (with no stops at the stations in between). After stopping at North Hanley, the shuttles will transport passengers to and from both airport terminal stations. Eastbound Red Line passengers can continue their trips by boarding MetroLink at the Wellston Station.

Red Line MetroLink customers should allow for delays of 20 to 30 minutes. Blue Line service will not be affected. Signage and Metro employees will be at the seven stations to assist customers.

To accommodate hockey crowds taking MetroLink to the 7 p.m. Blues game on Saturday, February 23, extra shuttle buses between North Hanley and Wellston will be added before the game and after the game.

The rail interlocking project near the UMSL South MetroLink Station is part of building a better transit system and an improved experience for Metro customers. When completed the new interlocking system will provide improved operational flexibility, and allow Metro to more effectively maintain the rail system, while minimizing customer impact. This will signal to a close this construction activity that has impacted train operations for more than a year. Metro appreciates the patience our customers have shown as we worked to build a better transit system.